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Monthly Archives: February 2013

The three days meeting of the Extended CEC of BSNL Employees Union held at Warangal (AP) from 26 to 28 February 2013 is a landmark session, which in detail discussed about the strategy to face the VI Membership Verification and win with a wide margin, to become the sole representative union.
The National Flag was hoisted by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President of the Union and the red flag of the union was hoisted by Com. P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary. All the comrades paid homage to the martyrs column.
The Inaugural Session started at 1100 hours in the spacious K.R.V. Gardens in the centre of the town. The hall was fully decorated and the stage was set with large banners with the drawings of the pioneers of P and T Trade Union movement viz. Babu Tarapada, Henry Barton, Dada Ghosh , K.G.Bose, N.J.Iyer, Adinarayana and Moni Bose. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU presided. Com. Vijaya Bhaskar, MLA and Chairman of the Reception Committee and Com.J.Sampath Rao, Convener, Reception Committee, welcomed all present.
Com. A.K.Padmanabhan, President, CITU, inaugurated the meeting who touched upon the successful two days strike on 20-21 February 2013 and the resultant developments. He also spoke about the anti-worker policies being implemented by the central government and the need to fight the same.
Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri in his Presidential Speech spoke about the main issues of the CEC meeting like facing the VI Membership verification, providing better service to the people, joint struggles and on other important demands.
General Secretary BSNLEU, Com.P.Abhimanyu in his keynote address presented the report on activities since the last AIC held at Ludhiana in September 2012nd spoke extensively covering all the issues. Coms. P.Asokababu, Vice President as also Com. Animesh Mitra, DY GS.
After vote of thanks by the Reception Committee, the session came to an end at 1330 hours.

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New Delhi, February 26: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

More burdens on the people

The railway budget has added more burdens on the people traveling in trains. The railway minister has made the false claim that railway fares are not being increased. After increasing passenger fares by 20 per cent just two months before the railway budget, the present budget provisions will definitely increase the fares further. A fuel surcharge has been imposed which will result in raising the fares twice a year. There has been an increase in the reservation, cancellation and tatkal charges and fares of superfast trains.
The five per cent increase in freight charges across the board will have a cascading effect on inflation.

The budget has proposed to have an independent Rail Tariff Authority (RTA) which will decide on freight and tariff structure in the future. This will open the way for continuous increase in freight and passenger fares.

The railway budget has made no serious effort to overcome the financial crisis affecting the Indian railways. The criss was deliberately created in the past three years by enhancing the number of projects, spending on advertisements, foundation laying ceremonies and other activities. The railway minister has scaled down targets for the new lines, gauge conversion, allocation and acquisition of railway stock in order to reduce the operating ratio. The annual plan target was not achievable as the Public Private Partnership (PPP) has been a failure. Not a single investment has been there from the PPP model in the railways. The target for freight has been increased but the target for acquisition of wagons has been reduced by 2000, making it difficult to achieve the freight target. This has been clearly done to reduce the operating ratio.

Though there has been a serious increase in the train accidents, there are no proposals to make rail travel accident free and safe in the future.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the increase in fares through various means and the rise in freight charges be dropped.

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The Extended Central Executive Committee of BSNLEU started today, 26th February, at Warangal(A.P) with the hoisting of the National and union flags at about 10.00 AM in the lawns of the Gardens, where the meeting is taking place. The Conference was inaugurated by Com.A.K.Padmanabahan, All India President, CITU.Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri presided. The welcome address was given by Com.Bhaskar, MLA and Chairman of Reception Committee and Com. J.Sampath Rao, General Secretary of the RC. Coms. P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU Animesh Mitra, Dy.GS, P.Asokababu, Vice-President as also Com. Sudha Bhaskar, General Secretary, CITU, A.P. also addressed/Greeted the meeting.
The report was presented by GS along with other issues. The delegates started discussion in the afternoon. Themeeting will continue for the next two days. In the Inaugural session, more than 800 comrades participated.

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Despite his failing health, Fidel Castro addressed the newly formed National Assembly of People’s Power of cuba which was greeted warmly by the people. A brief report published in the media is given below:
HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 25 (ACN) “We do not struggle for our own glory or or honors; we fight for ideas we consider fair and to which millions of Cubans have dedicated their youth and their lives,” said Fidel Castro in his address to the Eight Legislature of the National Assembly of People’s Power, which was set up on Sunday.
Fidel said he deeply appreciated the noble gesture by the people to have elected him a Parliament deputy. He said he never thought he would live that long and that his enemies would be that clumsy in their hateful practice of eliminating their adversaries, who are determined to fight.
“In such an unequal battle, our people proved their astonishing capacity to resist and overcome,” he pointed out, and stressed that some eight hundred thousand Cubans have met internationalist missions.

The Cuban Revolution leader recalled important moments of recent Cuban history, like the 1962 missile crisis, where the island was about to turn into a nuclear battlefield; the 1961 Bay of Pigs mercenary invasion backed by Washington; the participation of Cuban internationalist troops in the victory of Cuito Cuanavale, which led to the end of the former Apartheid System.
Fidel Castro said that after the 1959 Revolution triumph, the domestic battle targeted political ignorance and anti-socialist ideas instilled by the bourgeoisie and US imperialism. The fight of social classes unleashed just few miles from the United States was the most efficient political school for the country.

However, he said, the big battle now focuses the need to deal with bad habits and mistakes that are being committed by many citizens, including Communist Party members in different social areas.
Fidel said that humanity is now experiencing a unique stage, which is quite different from centuries ago. The world population increased to 7 billion people, an alarming figure expressing a demand for vitalfoodstuffs that science, technology and the natural resources of the planet are quite far from meeting.

Fidel also referred to current natural threats on humanity, such as During his speech to legislators, the statesman recalled the pro tempore presidency recently assumed by Cuba at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), something he described as having “particular relevance for its vindication of the Cuban people’s struggle for sovereignty and self-determination.”

Raul Castro also congratulated the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, for his February 17 election victory, and wished a speedy recovery to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

In statements to Prensa Latina, several parliamentarians confirmed in their posts considered the contribution to the socio-economic updating of the country to be among the greatest challenges before them, through a process where the Government aims to achieve greater efficiency and
productivity within socialism ( Courtsey: Ganashakti)

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The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has decided in its meeting today, 25th February 2013, to pay 8.5 per cent interest rate to its over 5 crore subscribers on their PF deposits for 2012-13, higher than 8.25 per cent provided in the last financial year 2011-12. But this is far below the demand placed by the Unions that it should be 9.5% interest.
The decision was taken at the meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), the highest decision making body of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

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We had always pointed out that the private telecom companies are cheating and avoiding taxes in many ways to increase their profits. In this connection, the latest is the cheating by Airtel, Tata and Singapore Telecommunications by unauthorisedly giving international connections. A press report in this connection is given below:

NEW DELHI: The CBI has registered a case in a Delhi court against Bharti Airtel Ltd, Tata Communication Ltd and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd for allegedly causing a loss of nearly Rs 48 crore to the government since 2004 by illegally providing international long distance (ILD)services.

All the three telecom companies have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating under the Indian Penal Code and also under the Indian Telegraph Act for violating the department of telecommunications’ licencing norms.

The FIR has been filed in a local court on a complaint of ministry of communications and IT.

When contacted, Bharti Airtel had no comments to offer while Tata Communications said it would not comment on speculation.

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A few minutes back, Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan, Patron of AIBDPA intimated me the sad news of the passing away of Com. K.A.Velayudhan, a leader of AIBDPA and a valiant fighter of the BSNLEU.
Com. Kochu Velayudhan, as he was fondly called by our comrades, was very active in the BSNLEU and held many ofice-bearers posts in the union. He was victimised several times for his union activities including participation in the strikes. His main centre of activities was Ernakulam-Cochin area. I met him last time at the Circle Conference of the AIBDPA at Ernakulam about six months back. We discussed about organisational matters and issues of Pensioners.His wife, Com. Karthyayini, who is also a very active worker of BSNLEU and AIBDPA, was also present.
We have lost a very experienced and militant leader. I express my deep sorrow. I express my heartfelt condolences to Com.Karthyayini and other family members!

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The Left Parties – Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, All India Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party – have issued the following statement:
“The Left parties warmly congratulate the working class, employees and other sections of the working people who have made the two-day general strike on February 20 and 21 a magnificent success. The workers struck work in all industries and commercial sectors. The strike was effective in petroleum sector, coal, mining, port & dock, plantation, manufacturing, banking and insurance. State government offices were also affected by the strike. The participation of workers in the unorganized sectors and scheme workers was also notable.

The Left parties condemned the instances of police repression against striking workers and the killing of a T.U leader in Ambala by crushing him under a state bus. In West Bengal, despite the state government machinery being used to foil the strike, there was a powerful strike in various sectors. Kerala observed a total bandh in solidarity with the striking workers.

This strike has been historic in that all the Central Trade Unions gave a joint call for the first time for a two-day general strike. This makes it the biggest working class action since independence. The Central government has to immediately address the demands raised by the general strike and take steps to fulfill them, otherwise bigger actions will follow. This is a wakeup call to stop the anti-people and anti-working class policies.”

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The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has congratulated and greet the Indian Working Class for the Historic Strike of 20-21 February 2021. The same is reproduced below:

WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS

Statement by the General Secretary of the WFTU, George Mavrikos on
the All-Indian General Strike on February 20-21st, 2013

“The Indian working class proved its determination in the struggle for the
labour and social rights with a massive general strike.

Dozens of millions of workers marched under the banners of the WFTU
affiliated class-oriented trade union organization. This is a loud message
to the Indian government and the capitalists and a great lesson for the
international working class.

We denounce with anger the state violence, the oppression of the employers
and the strike-breaking mechanisms that aimed to weaken the united class
response of the workers to the anti-labour policies causing acute problems to
the Indian workers. We honour the martyrs of the struggle who give their lives
for the betterment of the living and working conditions of the working class.

The WFTU once more expresses its support to the demands of the Indian
trade unions.”

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The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is conducting a Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha which will traverse the length and breadth of the country. Four main jathas will start from Kanyakumari, Kolkata, Mumbai and Amritsar to Delhi. At the conclusion of these jathas, there will be a massive rally at Delhi on March 19 at Ramlila Maidan.

The purpose of the jatha is to highlight some of the main problems and issues facing the people and to set out alternative policies advocated by the CPI(M). The policies of the UPA government at the Centre have resulted in continuous price rise, agrarian distress, growing unemployment and massive corruption. There is no difference between the Congress and the BJP as far as their basic policies are concerned.

The jathas will call for people’s unity to struggle for their basic rights, against communalism and to demand a reversal of the disastrous economic policies being followed by both the Congress and the BJP. The jatha will focus on the following areas:

1) Right to Land and House-sites: Implement land reform policies by distributing surplus land to the landless. Guarantee house-sites to each landless household.

2) Curb Price Rise and Right to Food: Universal right to 35 kgs of foodgrains at a maximum price of rupees two a kg. Scrap APL/BPL based fraudulent poverty calculations. Stop forward trading in foodgrains and other essential commodities.

3) Right to Education and Health: Stop privatisation of educational and health services. Increase allocations for education and health. Guarantee implementation of the Right to Education Act. Strengthen public services in health and ensure strict regulation of the private sector.

4) Right to Employment: Step up public investment to ensure creation of jobs; lift the ban on recruitment and ensure time-bound recruitment for all vacancies, particularly for SC/ST/OBC backlog; increase days of work under NREGA with price index linked minimum wages and expand it to include guarantee of work days in urban India.

5) Ensure Social Justice and Rights of Women : Curb violence against women and provide one-third reservation for women in legislatures and Parliament; end social practices of untouchability and discrimination against dalits; protect the land and forest rights of adivasis; provision of equal opportunities in education and jobs for the Muslim community.

6) End Corruption: Enact Lokpal legislation with independent powers of investigation; bring back black money stashed in foreign banks; recover losses from the corporates responsible; send the corrupt to jail.

Programme of the Jathas:
•
February 24 – launch of the Kanyakumari to Delhi jatha. This jatha will be led by S. Ramachandran Pillai and the team of leaders will consist of M. A. Baby, K. Varadharajan, V. Srinivasa Rao and Sudha Sundararaman.

•
March 1 – Jatha will start from Kolkata to Delhi. This jatha will be led by Prakash Karat and the team of leaders will consist of Biman Basu, Jogendra Sharma, Subhashini Ali and J. S. Majumdar.

•
March 4 – Jatha will start from Jalianwalabagh in Amritsar to Delhi. This jatha will be led by Brinda Karat and the team of leaders will consist of Hannan Mollah, Inderjeet Singh and Rajendra Sharma.

•
March 8 – Jatha will start from Mumbai to Delhi. This jatha will be led by Sitaram Yechury and the team of leaders will consist of Nilotpal Basu, Mohd. Salim and Mariam Dhawale.

The Kanyakumari jatha will be flagged off on February 24 by the General Secretary Prakash Karat.

Linking Jathas

From Guwahati (Assam), there will be a jatha to Kolkata starting on February 23. This jatha will be flagged off by Manik Sarkar, member of the Polit Bureau.

From Paralakhemundi (Odisha), there will be a jatha to Kolkata starting on February 24.

From Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), there will be a jatha to Chandigarh starting on March 3.

From Bhavnagar (Gujarat), there will be a jatha to Indore starting on March 6.

During this period, there will be various sub jathas conducted within the states that will link up to the main jathas.